Feltham and Heston By-Election

[Cliff Dixon]

A 50/50 split of the ED vote between the BNP and UKIP would have seen UKIP come third. If the people who voted ED had seen the way the BNP sub-forum here operates they wouldn't touch the BNP with a barge pole. I'm not sure many of Joe Public would be too impressed.

The ED (my old party) didn't put much effort in, just the one free postal drop and two activists out with a pasting table on the final Saturday. Roger Cooper is a decent man, but got no support from his party at all.

I have heard from some former colleagues that they only stood as a spoiler to split the vote, and that a certain member of the NC from the Kent area was behind it - This would tie in with the stream of anti-UKIP rhetoric and downright lies that have been spewing from his blog site over the last month. If this is the case, it is not only pathetic but divisive to the wider cause.

[Millennium3]

Millenium 3 - Having participated in the Feltham & Heston campaign, UKIP had activists out from all sections of English society. I was working alongside young UKIP members, ex-Lib Dem and Labour members, some working class like myself and also the longer established members that commonly attract the comments about the party being a repository for disillusioned Tories.

The party grew from the split in the Conservatives, so there will always be that Tory element but it would appear that the party is now appealing to a braoder cross-section.

The comment about the comfortable life of the MEP's was a touch uncharitable - Both Nigel Farage and Gerard Batten were present on many of the action days and pitched in with the rest of us, sometimes straight from their 'day' jobs in Brussels. I was not aware of any MEP's from the other parties doing so (Although I will be happy to stand corrected if that is the case)

Also, with regards to SDP's comments on attracting the working classes - During canvassing in my area and also for this by-election three issues that keep coming up are affordable social housing, law and order and mass immigration. UKIP have the policies in these areas to grab votes from the old three parties, but the message needs to be communicated that we are not just an anti-EU party. That takes time and hard work by activists on the ground, but new branches are being formed all the time to convey this on the doorstep. For example, the branch I am in have 5000 leaflets coming this week for a target ward that concentrates on local issues with only a brief reference to the EU, thus promoting the other issues that matter to people on a daily basis.

Cliff, it does sound as if the Party has improved since I was a member 6/7 years ago - I was always a fan of Gerard Batten and hoped he would become leader.

My greatest concern is for the ordinary members who, as I did, work hard to build the Party locally. It certainly has been the case in the past, that this hard work is not fully supported by NF who would not develop a domestic policy agenda that would appeal to a broad section of the voters. I will believe the Party has really changed when I hear NF speaking passionately about issues other than leaving the EU.

[SDP]

Cliff Dixon

"During canvassing in my area and also for this by-election three issues that keep coming up are affordable social housing, law and order and mass immigration."

Thank you for your comments on the election campaign Cliff Dixon. Yes UKIP's policies would definitely benefit the working class but UKIP's policies need to be put across with a lot more specificity.
Yes controlling our orders would do a lot for unemployment in Britain and benefit the working class.
But when will UKIP produce a leaflet with the following title ?

Working Class fight back against Unemployment

[SDP]

The ED (my old party) didn't put much effort in, just the one free postal drop and two activists out with a pasting table on the final Saturday. Roger Cooper is a decent man, but got no support from his party at all.

I have heard from some former colleagues that they only stood as a spoiler to split the vote, and that a certain member of the NC from the Kent area was behind it - This would tie in with the stream of anti-UKIP rhetoric and downright lies that have been spewing from his blog site over the last month. If this is the case, it is not only pathetic but divisive to the wider cause.

Cliff Dixon

The Anti-EU Patriots cause is split into many tiny parties. I hope that one day we will see an alliance of all sections of the Anti-EU Camp. There are good anti-EU people in the Conservative Party and Labour Party. I also believe there is one Liberal that voted for a referendum in the recent Westminster debate. The issue of Europe cuts across party lines. I suppoprt anti-EU campaigners whatever party they are in.

[Cliff Dixon]

Cliff Dixon

"During canvassing in my area and also for this by-election three issues that keep coming up are affordable social housing, law and order and mass immigration."

Thank you for your comments on the election campaign Cliff Dixon. Yes UKIP's policies would definitely benefit the working class but UKIP's policies need to be put across with a lot more specificity.
Yes controlling our orders would do a lot for unemployment in Britain and benefit the working class.
But when will UKIP produce a leaflet with the following title ?

Working Class fight back against Unemployment

SDP - The minute you start putting out leaflets with these kind of headlines the perception will be that you are a 'workers' party like the SWP, rather than the libertarian party supporting the ordinary aspirational people of all sections of society that UKIP truly represent.

What is needed in my opinion is more engagement on a local level with the electorate on our complete range of policies, something that our campaigns manager in Hillingdon has indicated that he is very keen to do and has backed up with practical support for the leaflet drop I mentioned earlier.

[Cliff Dixon]

Cliff Dixon

The Anti-EU Patriots cause is split into many tiny parties. I hope that one day we will see an alliance of all sections of the Anti-EU Camp. There are good anti-EU people in the Conservative Party and Labour Party. I also believe there is one Liberal that voted for a referendum in the recent Westminster debate. The issue of Europe cuts across party lines. I suppoprt anti-EU campaigners whatever party they are in.

I too support anti-EU campaigners cross party. I have a lot of time for Labour MP's such as Frank Field and Kate Hoey, plus Conservative MEP's such as Daniel Hannan - I may disagree with them on some issues, but cannot fault their sincerity and drive in others. Unfortunately, there are some who claim to have England's best interests at heart but continue with their own personal agendas and ego trips which damage the wider cause. I hope that some day soon they disappear from the stage and allow real patriots from all parties to join together and make a difference.

[Cliff Dixon]

Cliff, it does sound as if the Party has improved since I was a member 6/7 years ago - I was always a fan of Gerard Batten and hoped he would become leader.

My greatest concern is for the ordinary members who, as I did, work hard to build the Party locally. It certainly has been the case in the past, that this hard work is not fully supported by NF who would not develop a domestic policy agenda that would appeal to a broad section of the voters. I will believe the Party has really changed when I hear NF speaking passionately about issues other than leaving the EU.

Did you look at his party conference speech where he addressed various issues including an English Parliament? Definitely worth a look.

[Village Idiot]

A 50/50 split of the ED vote between the BNP and UKIP would have seen UKIP come third.

Yes, point taken.

If the people who voted ED had seen the way the BNP sub-forum here operates they wouldn't touch the BNP with a barge pole. I'm not sure many of Joe Public would be too impressed

Yes, but there are internet forums and the real world. Forums provide a space for some individuals to act in obnoxious ways - ways in which they would never conduct themselves face to face with anyone. I'm assuming there are members/supporters of all parties who behave badly on the interweb.

[Millennium3]

Did you look at his party conference speech where he addressed various issues including an English Parliament? Definitely worth a look.

Unfortunately conference was held shortly after the Barnsley bye election and he was saying that that 2nd place was going to be a spring-board for future elections.

Defence, Financial Services were given attention, but no mention of any domestic policies that would appeal to the majority - 90% was about our membership of the EU.

[Businessman]

This certainly seems to have been a good an encouraging vote for UKIP. More power to their elbow!